LESSONS FOR LEADERS (Commentary on Timothy & Titus)
Mr K Gerner B.A.
AUDIO VISUAL MINISTRIES
P.O.Box 1, NEWCASTLE, Co Down. BT33 0EP.Northern Ireland
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Lesson 11. SERVICE REWARDED. 2 Timothy 4:1-22
This lesson contains the last words and charge of St Paul.
In view of the declension which he foresaw in the last days and because of the value which he placed on God's Word, Paul now gives Timothy a solemn charge TO HOLD FAST THE FAITH, before he tells him of his own testimony to the KEEPING POWER OF GOD in the last days which he spent on earth.
1.CHARGE THE PREACHERS TO PREACH THE WORD
Christ is soon to return (v.1-8) and it is in this light that we must move.
(a) CHARGE TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD.v.1-2
2TI 4:1 NIV In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
Christ will judge living and dead alike and the Believer must LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF THIS FACT.
2TI 4:2 NIV Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.
We need to herald the truth which he set out in the last section, being alert to seize every opportunity, without regard to the opinion or prejudices of others which would conflict with our loyalty to the Lord. We are to CORRECT without irritability and with a readiness to use the Word to TEACH.
(b) PURPOSE AND REASON FOR THIS CHARGE. v.3-4
2TI 4:3 NIV For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
Rejection of truth leads to false teaching as hardened minds become closed to the real truth. Paul speaks of "itching ears" to "gather" teachers that suit themselves. This eagerness to hear something other than the truth, will lead them to gather teachers that suit their own liking. Some Congregations today only choose Ministers whose message suits them !! There follow definite results.....
2TI 4:4 NIV They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
In post-Apostolic times, the stories of lives and miracle deeds of the saints, held the people far more than the Scriptures. In time, in fact, the AUTHORITY AND DECREEES OF THE CHURCH EVEN REPLACED THE AUTHORITY OF THE BIBLE, leading to a FORMALISM OF OUTWARD RELIGION. Undue emphasis on MIRACLES AND MEN OF POWER CAN STILL HOLD THE SAME DANGER and leads to the position where Pentecostal and Charismatic preachers can "sell Jordan water" or "pieces of miracle tent" to the faithful !!
2TI 4:5 NIV But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
Freed from credibility and excitability, Timothy is exhorted to be stable enough to preach without just seeking novelty, by reaching out to a lost world with the Truth. This takes time and study !! (d) PATIENT ENDURANCE WILL BRING A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.v.6-8
2TI 4:6 NIV For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.
Paul sees himself as ready to be poured out like a drink offering, which was an indication of Divine pleasure in his sacrifice.
EXO 29:40 NIV With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering.
His whole life of sacrificial service was to be sealed by martyrdom !
2TI 4:7 NIV I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
At this point, Paul is not looking back in regret or longing. HIS WARFARE HAD BEEN WELL WAGED. HIS COURSE WAS COMPLETE. HE HAD KEPT HIS TREASURE UNTIL THE END.
2TI 4:8 NIV Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS is the end to this section, with its reference to the GREEK OLYMPIC GAMES where the victor received a crown of laurel. Paul sees an UNFADING CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WAITING FOR HIM AT THE END. This reference is then extended TO ALL FAITHFUL BELIEVERS (as Paul always thinks unselfishly) who have longed for Christ's appearing.
YOU MUST KEEP FAITH TO GET THIS CROWN !
2.CIRCUMSTANCES OF PAUL AT THE TIME OF WRITING
(a) Timothy had remained loyal where others deserted Paul.
2TI 4:9 NIV Do your best to come to me quickly, ( 10) for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia
Paul had faith in Timothy's loyalty and devotion, although DEMAS had given way to love of the world, CRESCENS had gone to Galatia and TITUS to Dalmatia. Those loving Christ;'s appearing, may well have to lay aside advantages and comfort.
(b) Paul still had faithful friends.
2TI 4:11 NIV Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
Men of God should always expect to have a faithful remnant to stand by them, and Paul graciously overlooks the disappointing behaviour of MARK in the light of his present service, although he had quarrelled with Barnabas over this young man on their 2nd missionary trip
ACT 15:37 NIV Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them,38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus
TYCHICUS seems to have acted here as |Paul's postman, as he came from Asia.
ACT 20:4 NIV He was accompanied ....by Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.
Tychicus may have been a native of EPHESUS and was very close to Paul.
EPH 6:21 NIV Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing.
He was sent to Colosse with Onesimus with a letter from Paul
COL 4:7 NIV Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.
(c) Paul asks for some personal items
2TI 4:13 NIV When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
The cloak would be needed with the onset of winter (NOT as an ecclesiastical vestment !) while fine vellum, from the skins of calves or goats was manufactured at PERGAMUM -- which gave "parchment" its name !
DO WE VALUE THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD as much as we should ? They do in Soviet Russia and China !!
(d) Paul gives some warnings
2TI 4:14 NIV Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.
ALEXANDER may have been linked with HYMNAEUS in this evil attack
1TI 1:20 NIV Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
On the other hand, his opposition may have had something to do with Paul's trial at home, but anyway, Paul leaves him with the Lord, who will repay him, and refuses to take further action.
ROM 12:19 NIV Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
He simply WARNS TIMOTHY AGAINST HIM AS AN OPPONENT OF THE GOSPEL.
(Another possibility is that this is a reference to ALEXANDER, the Pharisaical Jew.
ACT 19:33 NIV The Jews pushed Alexander to the front, and some of the crowd shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defence before the people.34 But when they realised he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!")
(e) MOST HAD DESERTED PAUL DURING HIS FIRST TRIAL, BUT GOD STOOD BY HIM
2TI 4:16 NIV At my first defence, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.
Paul may have faced two charges of arson and treason at his first trial under Nero, and just like Christ, everyone had left him under this pressure.
JOH 16:32 NIV "But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
Paul still prays for their forgiveness, that it may not be held against them.
2TI 4:17 NIV But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth.
The Lord had stood with Paul at jerusalem and even in the shipwreck on the waY TO ROME BY hIS ANGEL, AS HE WILL FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN UNDER TRIAL.
ACT 27:23 NIV Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me.
PAUL had been able to give a full Gospel Testimony during his trial, so that all the Gentiles would be able to hear the message, as God promised him at his conversion.
ACT 9:15 NIV But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
The term "rescued from the lion's mouth" may have been a common metaphor for "a near shave" rather than a personal reference to the lions, but Paul was confident still in GOD.
(f) PAUL REMAINED CONFIDENT IN THE DELIVERING POWER OF GOD
2TI 4:18 NIV The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The same Greek is used here as in the Lord's Prayer, following forgiveness of others.
(MAT 6:12 NIV Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. )
MAT 6:13 NIV And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. '
The BELIEVER MUST LAY HOLD ON THIS PROMISE so that he can PRAISE GOD WITH A DOXOLOGY LIKE ST PAUL !!
3. CLOSING WORDS OF PAUL. v.19 - 22
(a) AQUILLA AND PRISCILLA
2TI 4:19 NIV Greet Priscilla and Aquila
They were noble pioneers at Ephesus, as we saw in our first lesson.
ACT 18:2 NIV There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them,
ACT 18:18 NIV Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.
ROM 16:3 NIV Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.
They now disappear from the scene after active lives as working missionaries, who had OPENED THEIR HOME TO GOD !
(b) ERASTUS
2TI 4:20 NIV Erastus stayed in Corinth..
Erastus also goes, who was probably a native of Corinth
ROM 16:23 NIV Gaius, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city's director of public works,
He was also a companion of Timothy in the early Ephesians days
ACT 19:22 NIV He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia,
(c) TROPHIMUS
2TI 4:20 NIV I left Trophimus sick in Miletus.
GIFTS OF HEALING were only exercised under direct Holy Ghost leading. Trophimus was obviously overworked because Paul had been deserted by others, and he was given this HOLIDAY. This verse DOES NOT SUPPORT ;
(i) "Healing was withdrawn at the end of Paul's ministry..."
Many were still healed on MALTA after the shipwreck through Paul's ministry.
ACT 28:8 NIV His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured.
(ii) "Healing is never the will of God !"
God wants healthy people and Christ came to give MORE LIFE, not less !
JOH 10:10 NIV The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
(iii) "Christians should accept sickness as God's chastisement & lay down !"
This is NOT the general teaching of Scripture ! Holiness and health are meant to go together !
3JO 1:2 NIV Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
(d) OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES
2TI 4:21 NIV Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers.
Navigating would difficult, once winter had set in, but nothing is known of the others here named
ACT 27:12 NIV Since the harbour was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbour in Crete, facing both south-west and north-west.
(e) CLOSING WORDS OF PAUL
2TI 4:22 NIV The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
THE OLD APOSTLE still majored on THE GRACE OF GOD !
He sums up the goodness of God in his life as :
(i) Shown in the GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT in home fellowship
2TI 1:6 NIV For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
(ii) Saving the worst sinner (himself!) by the power of the Gospel
1TI 1:15 NIV Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.
THE LEADER IS STILL ONLY A SINNER SAVED BY GRACE !
(iii) Seen in the SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP of Elders and Deacons, who act as gentle fathers to the flock
1TI 3:3 NIV not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle,
1TI 3:6 NIV He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgement as the devil. (HUMILITY is vital)
RELIABILITY to the end, like that of Paul, is also vital in leadership.
(iv) Strengthening us for LAST DAY SPIRITUAL WARFARE
2TI 2:1 NIV You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
LEADERS should pass this on to young converts !
(v) Sustaining those who are slaves to hard masters
1TI 6:1 NIV All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered.2 LEADERS should sustain others, like themselves, under this pressure !
(vi) SHINING OUT TRUE TEACHING AND LATTER DAY SUFFERING IN A CORRUPT TIME
2TI 2:22 NIV Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
SCRIPTURES should shine through the lives of leaders and young believers alike!
2TI 3:15 NIV.... the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
(vii) SUPPORTING US RIGHT TO THE END OF OUR LIVES
HEB 13:5 NIV Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." 6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
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EXERCISE No 11
( a) COMPARE THE CONSTANCY OF DIVINE FRIENDSHIP with the falling away of human companionship in (1) Joshua 1:5 (2) John 13:1 (3) Matthew 26:56 (4) John 16:32 (5) Hebrews 13:5
(b) 2HEALING IS THE RULE AND SICKNESS THE EXCEPTION" Show this from : (1) Isaiah 53:5 (2) Luke 4:18 (3) Matthew 8:16 (4) Acts 5:16 (5) James 5:14-16.
Send your answers with s.a.e. to AUDIO VISUAL MINISTRIES, P.O.Box 1,NEWCASTLE, Co Down, BT33 0EP, Northern Ireland
LESSONS FOR LEADERS. (Commentary on Timothy & Titus)
K Gerner. BA. AUDIO VISUAL MINISTRIES ( USA )
1. CHARGE THE PREACHERS TO PREACH THE WORD.
(A) Charge to preach the Word of God.v.1-2
(B) Purpose and reason for this charge. v.3 - 4
(C) Patient teaching and evangelistic preaching are vital.v.5
(D) Patient endurance will bring a Crown of righteousness.v.6-8.
2.CIRCUMSTANCES OF PAUL AT THE TIME OF WRITING.
(A) Timothy had remained loyal, where others had deserted Paul.v.9
(B) Paul still had faithful friends.v.11
(C) Paul asks for some personal items.v.13
(D) Paul gives some warnings.v.14
(E) Most had deserted Paul during his first trial, but God.v.16
(F) Paul remained confident in the delivering power of God.v.18
3.CLOSING WORDS OF PAUL. v.19-22
(A) Aquilla and Priscilla.v.19
(B) Erastus.v.20
(C) Trophimus sick.v.20. This does NOT teach:
(i) Healing withdrawn at end of Paul's ministry.Acts 28:8
(ii) Healing is never the will of God.John 10:10
(iii) Christians should accept sickness. 3 John 1:2
(D) Other circumstances. v.21
(E) Closing words of Paul.v.22. Sum up God's Grace shown in:
(i) Gifts of the Spirit in home fellowships.2 Tim 1:6
(ii) Saving such a great sinner as himself.1 Tim 1:15.
(iii) Spiritual leadership of gentle Elders and Deacons.1 Tim 3:3
(iv) Strengthening us for last day spiritual warfare.2 Tim 2:1
(v) Sustaining those who are slaves to hard masters.1 Tim 6:1
(vi) Shining out in true teaching and suffering.2 Tim 2:22
(vii) Supporting us right to the end of our lives. Heb.13:5.
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